Reading K4 Test 4

Passage 1. The model of a traditional British family - with a working father and a housewife mother raising two children - has changed greatly over the past 20 years.

Passage 2. The biggest change has been caused by the growing divorce rate. As many as two out of three marriages now end in separation, which brings about the situation where many children live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or holidays.

Passage 3. The number of working mothers has also increased. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. But even when there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities, though they are very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas. Besides, women are no longer happy to stay at home bringing up children, and many make careers earning as much as or even more than men.

Passage 4. However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have a job and good salary. Although, it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and it's no longer seen as a bad thing for the children. As for children themselves, some people argue that modern children grow up to be more independent and mature than in the past. From an early age they have to go to nurseries, and so they are used to social behaviour and dealing with new people.

Passage 5. So in spite of the fact that the traditional picture of a family may no longer be true in modern Britain, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, successful children.

Choose the correct answer to the questions.

1. What is the main idea of the article?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. The traditional British family means a working father and a housewife mother.

   B. The traditional British family means a working father and mother.

   C. The traditional British family has never existed.

   D. The traditional British Family has changed greatly over the past 20 years.

2. How many marriages end in divorce nowadays?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. Two out of tree.

   B. One out of three.

   C. Three out of three.

   D. Two out of four.

3. What has caused an increase in children facilities?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. The increased number of working mothers.

   B. The increased number of divorced fathers.

   C. The increased number of independent children.

   D. The increased number of nurseries.

4. What are modern children like?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. They are more outgoing and bright than children were in the past.

   B. They are more polite and childish than children were in the past.

   C. They are more dependent from adults than children were in the past.

   D. They are more independent and mature than children were in the past.

5. What are the children used to at nurseries?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. To behave in a community.

   B. To behave well.

   C. To behave independently.

   D. To be nice to strangers.

6. What was one of the consequences of the increasing number of divorces?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. Many children help their mothers to earn money.

   B. Many men need to change work to support themselves and their children.

   C. Many women have to work to support themselves and their children.

   D. Many women have to change occupation to support themselves and their children.

7. Why do many families need both parents to work?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. In order to afford a holiday abroad.

   B. In order to send their children to nurseries.

   C. In order to buy a private house.

   D. In order to survive.

8. What was one of the effects from the changes in a family style?   [A, B, C, D]

   A. For women, it is now much easier to have a job and good salary.

   B. Fr men, it is now much easier to have a job and good salary.

   C. For children, it it now much easier to go to a nursery.

   D. For families, it is now much easier to get on well.

Match the words with their definitons.

Match the words with their oposites.

Match the words with their synonyms.

Complete the word combinations with the correct preposition.

Match the parts of the word combinations.

Match the parts of the sentences.

Match the adverbs with their function.

Match the passages with their meaning.

Are the statements true or false?

1. A modern British family differs from a traditional British family.       [True, False]

2. A modern British family doesn't differ from a traditional British family.       [True, False]

3. A present-day British family is the same as a traditional British family.       [True, False]

4. A traditional British family has changed greatly recently.       [True, False]

5. The biggest change has been caused by the growing marriage rate.       [True, False]

6. The biggest change change has been caused by the growing birth rate.       [True, False]

7. The biggest change has been caused by the growing divorce rate.       [True, False]

8. The biggest change has been caused by the growing death rate.       [True, False]

9. The number of working mothers hasn't increased.       [True, False]

10. The number of working mothers has risen.       [True, False]

11. The number of working mothers has decreased.       [True, False]

12. The number of working mothers has fallen.       [True, False]

13. Just a few families need both parents to work in order to survive.       [True, False]

14. Not many families need both parents to work in order to survive.       [True, False]

15. There are no families in which both parents have to work in order to survive.       [True, False]

16. Lots of families need both parents to work in order to survive.       [True, False]

17. Many women earn as much as or even more than men.       [True, False]

18. Some women earn even more than men.       [True, False]

19. No women earn as much as or even more than men.       [True, False]

20. Just a few women earn as much as or even more than men.       [True, False]

21. For women, it was much easier to have a job and good salary in the past.       [True, False]

22. For women, it is now much easier to have a job and good salary.       [True, False]

23. For women, it is difficult to find a job with a good salary now as it was in the past.       [True, False]

24. For women, it is not so difficult to find a job with a good salary now as it was in the past.       [True, False]

25. Being a working mother is not easy.       [True, False]

26. Being a working mother becomes normal.       [True, False]

27. Being a working mother is no longer seen as a bad thing for children.       [True, False]

28. Being a working mother is still seen as a bad thing for children.       [True, False]

29. Because of the fact that the traditional family has changed, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, succesful children.       [True, False]

30. In spite of the fact that the traditional family has changed, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, succesful children.       [True, False]

31. Regardless of the fact that the traditional family has changed, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, succesful children.       [True, False]

32. As a result of the fact that the traditional family has changed, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, succesful children.       [True, False]

Choose the correct variant and complete the sentences.

1. Parent's separation brings about the situation when many children live with one parent and only see            [other, another, the other, the others, others] at weekends or holidays.

2. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work            [to support, support, supporting, supported, supports] themselves and their children.

3. Many families need both parents to work             [only if, as well as, as if, rather than, in order to] survive.

4. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities,           [besides, however, though, after all, in fact] they are very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas.

5. Although, it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and it's            [as long as, no longer, long, longer, longest] seen as a bad thing for children.

6. From an early age they have to go to                  [secondary school, a playgroup, a garden centre, a mini-club, nurseries], and so they are used to social behaviour and dealing with new people.

7. So             [besides, however, though, in spite of, in fact] the fact the traditional picture of a family may no longer be true in modern Britain, the contemporary family continues to raise happy, successful children.

8. Women are no longer happy to stay at home bringing up children, and many make careers earning            [as much as, as well as, as if, as many as, as long as]or even more than men.